ABSTRACT
AT THEIR BEST symbols had an upward drive, an anagogic movement, lifting the soul from earthly things towards Heaven. Richard of St Victor who died in 1173 may have been a pupil of Hugh of St Victor (1096–1141). Richard set out to define symbol and anagogy. He quoted the pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite:
Beyond the illuminating rays of the most sacred utterances, when it is possible, we look upon the manifestation of heavenly souls, by means of symbol and anagogy – symbolice et anagogice. 1
